More Knowledgeable Others (MKOs)

Assignment Check-In Get into your teams. Review the last three lessons on social networks and first impressions. Eye contact Handshakes Attitude What is a social contact Others? Be prepared to report out in your team.

Assignment Check-in #2 Stay in your team. Have each person report out on: What you chose to do for the first impressions lesson (handshake, eye contact, etc.) The kinds of people you identified wanting in your network Pick the person with the best assignment from last week to share with the class

Expanding Your Network How to get more people in your network, and particularly, how to add people who can help you in your growth. Why would we want to add people to your network?

Why Add People to Your Network? 1). Connections (tell you what its like on college campus or in a training program you are considering) 2). Opportunities (help you get interviews for jobs or internships) 3). Mentors (people who can help you grow, gain new skills and insights)

Strength of Your Network How many people are you connected to? How many connections do your contacts have? The more connections, generally, the stronger the network Quality of your contacts Are they related to: The post-secondary education you want to explore? Careers you are interested in or are considering?

Techniques to Grow Your Network 1). Talk about your goals and interests with people. Hard to make an introduction if others don’t know what you’re working towards. 2). Ask! Ask for introductions. People will introduce you if they know and feel comfortable with the reason you want to meet their contact

What It Takes To Grow Your Network Time and trust. If you make a bad introduction, it could mean a loss of trust in you. Ways you can communicate that you’re a solid person to connect? Work ethic Responsibility Attentiveness Interest Good fit Serious about what you’re doing

Team Brainstorm Talk in your team about strategies you can use to build your network. Take out your network map that you created in class. Look at all the people in your network. Add on—who do they know? What are their workplaces, families, friends, clubs.

More Knowledgeable Others (MKOs) Lev Vygotsky was a Russian educator who created concept of “Zone of Proximal Development” or ZPD: Distance between the most difficult task a person can do alone and the most difficult task a person can do with help. Best way to learn was: Not taking on something way too hard or beyond your current level of skill Stay in the ZPD and use “More Knowledgeable Others” (MKOs)-

MKOs People who can help you reach the next level of your skill Anyone can be a MKO- Parents, teachers, peers, you! You can have several MKOs for different skills you want to gain

Team Activity Identify what skills you’d like to learn that will help you with your future goals? Be specific. What are things you know that you could help teach other people? Did you find someone in your group who could be an MKO for what you are wanting to learn?

Team Activity (optional) Have students do a “mini-networking” exercise In the next 5 minutes, approach at least 5 people and say something you are hoping to work on and 3 skills you are able to offer. See if you can find someone to help you with one of the skills you want to learn. See if you can introduce someone in the class to someone who can help them with a skill

Homework assignment Keep practicing! Be on the lookout for MKOs for yourself and others. See how many high quality connections you can make in your network in the next week.